Chapter 14: Decisive match

Before the second match against Team Blue, the dog-masked man spoke again, his voice carrying an ominous weight.

"Now that there has been a single goal, there is only one left for the match to be completed..."

A senile smirk curled onto his lips as he observed the expressions of Team Red. One after another, they turned to see the large digital clock on the wall, its numbers relentlessly counting down from fifteen minutes.

The news was a shock—exactly what the dog-masked man had intended. Panic settled over them, creeping into their bones like a venomous chill.

'Football cannot be played without stakes,' he mused internally, savoring the moment. 'Saying this now... I shall see the effect on their determination.'

"Please begin."

As the whistle blew, the players did not rush into an attack as they had before. A heavy silence loomed between them, and an unseen pressure bore down upon their shoulders. This match was no longer just a game—it was survival.

Miya swallowed hard, recalling the gruesome fate of players who had lost in earlier challenges. The memory sent a shudder through his spine. He couldn't afford to lose. Not here. Not now. The thought of getting blown apart—or worse, losing his career—was unbearable.

Whatever happened in these next fifteen minutes would decide everything.

"Miya, come on!" Mikey's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade. The urgency in his tone snapped Miya back to reality.

He looked up and felt his stomach drop—Team Blue was already on the offensive. Their formation was the same as before, a well-oiled machine moving with precision. But this time, John, the boy with striking blue hair, had locked onto him, marking him as his personal target.

"Let's go!" Mikey laughed, charging forward at full speed toward his opponents. His confidence was unwavering, his movements fluid.

Miya followed closely, his pace steady, eyes darting between John and the approaching wave of blue jerseys. His mind raced, analyzing their attack pattern.

'One on me, the other two pressing forward to close in on the ball. Their strategy is solid... if only we had more players.'

John intercepted him swiftly, their bodies colliding in a fierce struggle. Miya pushed forward with all his might, trying to break free, but John's strength was unnaturally overwhelming. Despite his slim build, he was like an immovable wall.

"Damn you! Get out of my way!" Miya growled, his frustration boiling over as he tried to muscle past him. Each attempt was met with an equally forceful block.

John smirked, his tone dripping with condescension. "Stop making noise, small fry. You're going nowhere."

Meanwhile, Mikey was now alone, facing two opponents who bore down on him with merciless intent. One of them lunged forward, attempting a direct tackle.

Mikey, however, was quicker.

With a flick of his foot, he lobbed the ball over his attacker's legs and spun around him in one seamless motion. The man barely had time to process what had happened before Mikey was already past him.

"Fuck!" the defender cursed under his breath, disbelief plastered across his face.

Yet, Mikey had no time to celebrate his escape. The second opponent was already in position, standing between him and the goal.

"Hehehehe! I like this!" Mikey grinned, shifting his weight as he dribbled with finesse. His opponent, however, was different from the last. There was no reckless aggression—only cold, calculated precision.

As Mikey feinted left, his opponent read the move instantly, extending his foot in an attempt to steal the ball.

"What?!" The boy's eyes widened in shock as Mikey executed a flawless nutmeg, slipping the ball through his legs before dashing past him.

"Nathan, tackle him!" someone from Team Blue roared.

Nathan, the last defender, positioned himself like a predator waiting to strike. His sharp gaze was locked onto the ball, his body tensed and ready.

'Two behind, one in front. No time for long techniques—I gotta score!' Mikey thought, adrenaline surging through his veins as he closed in on the goal.

Nathan smirked. "You aren't getting past me!"

He was a professional, one of the best defenders in his school team. There was no way he would let this through.

But then, Mikey did something unexpected.

"Who said anything about me scoring?!"

The words sent a jolt through Nathan and the trailing defenders. Before they could react, Mikey lobbed the ball high into the air.

For a moment, confusion filled the field. The ball arched gracefully, its trajectory seemingly unpredictable.

And then—

It landed perfectly at Eri's feet.

Shock rippled through the field as everyone finally noticed him. While the defense had been entirely focused on Mikey, Eri had silently slipped through their blind spots, unseen and unmarked. Now, he stood at the edge of the goal, the ball at his feet, an opportunity too perfect to miss.

This had been Miya's plan all along.

By making Mikey the center of attention, the entire enemy team had funneled their efforts into stopping him, leaving Eri a clear path straight to the goal.

A sinister grin spread across Eri's face. "It's my goal now."

With all his strength, he struck the ball.

A resounding thwack echoed through the field as the ball rocketed forward, piercing through the air with unstoppable force. The goalkeeper barely had time to react before the net rippled behind him.

"GOAAAL!!!"

The announcement blared over the speakers.

"TEAM BLUE 1 - TEAM RED 1."

A tense silence followed. Then, an eruption of mixed emotions—frustration, disbelief, and exhilaration.

John, who had been shadowing Miya, slowly straightened his posture. His eyes locked onto Eri, expression unreadable.

After a pause, he finally spoke, his voice devoid of emotion. "Is that the best you can do?"

Eri exhaled sharply, shaking his head in disappointment before turning to face his opponents once more. His lips curled into a smirk.

"Don't make this fucking too easy," he sneered. "You play like insects."